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Orals are the speaking component of language subjects and, depending on the language, the marks contribute between 25% and 40% of the total mark. In Irish, it’s 40%.
I’m regularly asked about the grade in Irish needed to meet the entry requirements for a primary teaching degree.
To be eligible for an offer through the CAO, an applicant must have a minimum of H4 (60%-69%). Applicants must also meet the college requirements and the points requirements.
However, the H4 in Irish can be the biggest stumbling block for a lot of students.
Students with an undergraduate degree in another area can apply for the Professional Master’s in Education (PME). At the end of this two-year master’s, graduates are qualified primary school teachers.
However, the PME has an Irish entry requirement also. PME applicants must achieve 65pc or higher on the oral component of the Teastas Eorpach na Gaeilge (TEG) Meánleibhéal 1 (B1) Irish examination.
Institutions such as DCU, Marino, Maynooth University and Mary Immaculate College offer both the undergraduate primary course and the PME, while Hibernia College only offers the PME.
Unfortunately, there is no way around the Irish entry requirement, even if students have an Irish exemption. Graduates will be expected to teach Irish upon entering the profession.
With the Irish oral worth 240 out of 600 of the overall marks for the subject, a student will make a giant leap towards a H4 if they can do well in this part of the exam.
The oral is broken down into the greeting, poetry reading, general conversation and the sraith pictiúr, and the latter is worth a huge 80 marks.
The main tips from Irish teachers would be to get as much exposure to the language as possible between now and the exams, covering all four language skills (talking, writing, listening and reading).
Irish is in fashion at present. We see celebrities such as Paul Mescal and Brendan Gleeson speaking Irish on the red carpet. There are lots of resources. TG4 foghlaim (foghlaim.tg4.ie) is excellent, with literature notes, short videos of sample oral answers and grammar exercises.
The Gaeilge section on www.rte.ie is a fantastic resource to practice reading short current affairs and news articles and to listen to excerpts from the news and popular Irish language podcasts such as Beo Ar Éigean.
It is a very busy time for students, especially those who are doing more than one language or who are preparing for the music practical.
Try not to become overwhelmed — prepare well and develop a good schedule or routine around this time.
